Used 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE LUX SUV Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE LUX SUV.
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Great SUV
Beautiful car
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE LUX SUV
Pros & Cons
- Pro:More passenger and cargo space than most competitors offer
- Pro:Above-average capabilities off-road and in bad weather conditions
- Pro:Available third-row seating is unique to the segment
- Con:Mediocre acceleration and fuel economy for the segment
- Con:Only one engine choice
- Con:Transmission is slow to downshift
- Con:Cabin is well-made but less luxurious in appearance than rivals
Full Edmunds Review: 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport SUV
Driving
Like its close relative, the Range Rover Evoque, the 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport feels supremely stable and well-coordinated on winding roads, with the accurate steering imparting solid feedback to the driver. We highly recommend you skip the optional 20-inch wheels, though, because they are at least partly responsible for a ride that tends toward jittery on imperfect surfaces. They generate a smattering of road noise, too. Smaller wheels would certainly improve things on both counts, but no Discovery Sport will deliver the sort of plush ride quality of its pricier air-suspended siblings. (We have yet to test the new-for-2017 adaptive suspension.)
It also can't match other Land Rovers off-road, lacking their ground clearance, wheel articulation, locking differential and low-range gearing. In this department it also falls short of similarly sized or priced Jeeps (Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, respectively). Nevertheless, the Discovery Sport does possess more capabilities off the beaten path than its compact luxury SUV competitors. It has short overhangs, a capable all-wheel-drive setup and (most important) the Terrain Response system that adjusts various vehicle parameters for optimum traction on different surfaces such as sand, snow or mud.
Powering all these on- and off-pavement forays is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that offers sufficient punch for most buyers in most situations. Having said that, though, virtually every competitor not powered by diesel fuel or a hybrid powertrain delivers superior acceleration. The nine-speed automatic transmission can also be reluctant to downshift, which can be an annoyance when trying to merge into faster-moving traffic.
Interior
The 2017 Discovery Sport features a handsome interior fitted with high-quality materials. The design is stylish but conservative, which might leave some shoppers wishing for something with a little more charisma.
The gauges and controls are easy to see and intuitive in their operation. The standard 8-inch touchscreen mounted in the center of the dash allows for smartphone-like gestures to control climate, audio, phone and (optional) navigation functions. It works well, but it can be too much of a reach at times, especially the accompanying physical buttons on its right side. The new-for-2017 InControl Touch Pro optional infotainment system is much more than just a larger, 10-inch screen. It's a substantially faster system with higher-grade graphics, customizable home screens and handy menu buttons always placed along the bottom. We haven't had much experience with it, but it seems promising and we recommend you try out Discovery Sports with both systems.
The second row offers decent legroom with the movable 60/40-split bench that both reclines (which is common) and slides fore and aft (which is rare). The seat is mounted 2 inches higher than the front seats to provide a better view for its occupants. The available third row is a tight fit for all but limber youngsters, leading us to suggest you look elsewhere if you plan on hauling seven passengers on a regular basis.
Speaking of hauling, fold down all the rear seats and you have a cargo hold with 60 cubic feet of space. Numerically, this is an average amount for a compact luxury crossover, but the Disco Sport's boxy shape makes the most of it. Although this SUV has "Sport" in its name, its utility is actually more appealing.
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport in New York is:
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